The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu (Lat: ''Archdioecesis Kotakinabaluensis'') is a Metropolitan

archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

of the

Latin Rite Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are Catholic rites of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church ''sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church, that originated in Europe where the Latin language once ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indone ...

, a state of Malaysia on the island of

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...

. The Archdiocese is the oldest ecclesiastical territory in Malaysia, with a long history slowly rising along with the Catholic population from a prefecture to an Archdiocese. Its

Cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...

archepiscopal see is

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu Sacred Heart Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, and the seat of its current archbishop, John Wong Soo Kau. The current cathedral was built from 1979 to 1981, with its dedication held on 21 November 1 ...

History

Originally erected on 4 September 1855 as the

Apostolic prefecture An apostolic prefect or prefect apostolic is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a 'pre-diocesan' missionary jurisdiction where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese. Although it ...

of Labuan and Borneo, created on territory split off from the then

Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia (Java) Batavia may refer to: Historical places * Batavia (region), a land inhabited by the Batavian people during the Roman Empire, today part of the Netherlands * Batavia, Dutch East Indies, present-day Jakarta, the former capital of the Dutch East In ...

(including the neighbouring

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...

). On 5 February 1927 it was renamed the Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Borneo, and lost territory to form the Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak. On 14 February 1952 the prefecture was promoted to Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton, hence entitled to a

titular bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

. On 22 March 1962 its name was changed once more to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kota Kinabalu, after its see. On 31 May 1976 the vicariate was elevated to a full Diocese of Kota Kinabalu,

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...

in the

ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United State ...

of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuching. The diocese lost territories twice, to create its present suffragans : * on 17 December 1992 the diocese the Diocese of Keningau with the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Datuk Cornelius Piong. * on 16 July 2007 the Diocese of Sandakan with the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom. On 23 May 2008, the diocese was elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese, whose

comprises the above suffragan dioceses, both formerly part of the original territory of the diocese of Kota Kinabalu: the Diocese of Keningau and the Diocese of Sandakan. On 21 June 2010,

Pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign ...

appointed Rev. John Wong Soo Kau, director of the aspirants’ formation house in Kota Kinabalu, as Coadjutor Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu. His ordination took place on 1 October 2010. the

Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

Kota Kinabalu , image_skyline = , image_caption = From top, left to right, bottom:Kota Kinabalu skyline, Wawasan intersection, Tun Mustapha Tower, Kota Kinabalu Coastal Highway, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Wism ...

is Most Rev. Datuk

John Wong Soo Kau John Wong (born 6 June 1968) is a Malaysian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was named the second metropolitan Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu on 24 January 2013, the Feast of St Francis de Sales, by Pope Francis. He is fully styled as His ...

, appointed in 2010. His predecessor was Most Rev. Datuk

John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw John Lee was born on 5 October 1933 in Jesselton, North Borneo (now Sabah). He was ordained a priest on 27 December 1964, and appointed Bishop of Kota Kinabalu on 31 March 1987. His episcopal ordination was on 26 June 1987. On 23 May 2008 he w ...

, appointed in 1987 and retired on 1 December 2012. The Patron Saint of the Archdiocese is

Saint Joseph Joseph (; el, Ἰωσήφ, translit=Ioséph) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels also name some brothers of ...

, Husband of Mary.

Prelates

Apostolic Prefects of Labuan and Borneo

* Mgsr. Don

Carlos Cuarteroni Rev. Msgr. Carlos Cuarteron (1816 – 12 March 1880), was a Spanish mariner who later became a priest and established the first Roman Catholic missions in northern Borneo.Mgsr. Thomas Jackson, MHM (18 July 1881 – 20 October 1895) * Mgsr. Edmund Dunn, MHM (4 May 1897 – 5 February 1927)

Apostolic Prefects of Northern Borneo

* Mgsr. August Wachter, MHM ''Matyr.'' (26 July 1927 – 1945) * Mgsr. James Buis, MHM, (18 January 1947 - 14 February 1952)

Apostolic Vicars of Jesselton/Kota Kinabalu

* Rt. Rev. James Buis, MHM (1 May 1952 – 1969) * Rt. Rev.

Peter Chung Hoan Ting Peter Chung Hoan Ting (born 10 September 1928) was the metropolitan archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching, Malaysia from 1976 to 2003, the first archbishop of the diocese. Chung entered the diocesan minor seminary of the Dio ...

, DCL (15 Nov 1970 – 30 January 1975) * Rt. Rev. Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong, DD (29 August 1975 – 31 May 1976)

Bishops of Kota Kinabalu

* Rt. Rev. Datuk Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong, DD (31 May 1976 – 16 November 1985) * Rt. Rev. Datuk

, DD (26 June 1987 – 23 May 2008)

Archbishops of Kota Kinabalu

* Most Rev. Datuk

, DD (23 May 2008 – 1 December 2012) * Most Rev. Datuk

, DD (1 December 2012 – current) John Wong Archbishop

Clergy

Archbishops

* Most Rev Datuk John Wong Soo Kau, Archbishop * Most Rev Datuk John Lee Yit Yaw, Archbishop Emeritus

College of Consultors

* Rev. Msgr. Nicholas Stephen Juki Tinsung (Vicar General) * Rev. Wilfred Atin (Chancellor) * Rev. Primus Jouil * Rev. Cosmas Lee Khod Min

Priests

* Rev. Abel Madisang * Rev. Aloysius Fidelis * Rev. Ambrose Anting * Rev. Andrew Kim
SST
* Rev. Daniel Jomilong * Rev. David Sham * Rev. Edward Raymond * Rev. Felix Chung (Retired) * Rev. Florian Marcus Dompok * Rev. Francis Tsen (Retired) * Rev. Fredrick Raymond * Rev. Gilbert Marcus Dompok * Rev. Isidore Gilbert Gondilou * Rev. Jack Johimi Sigam * Rev. Jalius Sading * Rev. Jeffri Gummu * Rev. Johnny Raju * Rev. Joshua Liew Chi Kiong * Rev. Lasius Gantis * Rev. Lawrence Kim
SST
* Rev. Mattheus Luta * Rev. Maxmillianno Hontor * Rev. Michael Modoit * Rev. Mitchelly Kiun * Rev. Ned Columba Jeremy Dousia, OSB * Rev. Patrick Jerome * Rev. Paul Lo * Rev. Dr. Peter Abas * Rev. Peter Chung * Rev. Postinus Kurup * Rev. Rayner Bisius * Rev. Rhobby Mojolou * Rev. Russell Lawrence * Rev. Saimon William * Rev. Sylvester Wong * Rev. Sunny Chung * Rev. Terans Thadeus John Dunggi * Rev. Thomas Madanan * Rev. Thomas Yip * Rev. Tony Mojiwat * Rev. Wiandigool Rusnab * Rev. Wilson Francis

List of parishes

As of 2020, there are 19 parishes including various sub-parishes and 229 Outstations found in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu. * Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish (Sacred Heart Cathedral, Karamunsing) ** sub-parishes of Church of Mary Immaculate, Bukit Padang and

Carmelite , image = , caption = Coat of arms of the Carmelites , abbreviation = OCarm , formation = Late 12th century , founder = Early hermits of Mount Carmel , founding_location = Mount Car ...

Monastery Chapel, Karamunsing * St Pius X Church Parish, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau * St Paul's Church Parish, Dontozidon, Penampang ** sub-parishes of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Kobusak, Penampang and ** St John's Chapel Kopungit, Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu * St Catherine's Church Parish, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu ** sub-parishes of Church of the Good Shepherd, Manggatal, Kota Kinabalu and ** Church of the Divine Mercy, KKIP, Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu * Holy Trinity Parish, Inobong-Madsiang, Penampang ** sub-parishes of Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Babagon, Penampang ** Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Inobong, Penampang (centre) ** Church of St Joseph the Worker, Pogunon, Penampang ** Church of the Presentation, Pongobonon, Buayan, Penampang ** Church of Christ the King, Kipouvo, Penampang ** Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Togudon, Penampang ** Church of St Martin, Moyog, Penampang ** Church of the Holy Cross, Togudon, Penampang ** Church of St Andrew the Apostle, Longkogungan, Babagon, Penampang ** Church of the Risen Christ, Timpangoh, Babagon, Penampang ** Madsiang Catholic Church, Madsiang, Penampang * St Joseph the Husband of Mary Church Parish, Tombongon, Kiulu, Tuaran ** sub-parishes of St Martin's Church, Malanggang, ** St Michael the Archangel Church, Lokub and ** St John Vianney Church, Pukak * St Edmund's Church Parish, Kota Belud * St Theresa's Church Parish, Kota Marudu * St Peter's Church Parish, Kudat * Church of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Labuan * St Simon Catholic Church Parish, Likas, Kota Kinabalu * Holy Rosary Parish, Limbahau, Papar ** sub-parishes of St Patrick's Church, Kinuta, Papar ** and St Sabina's Church, Titimbuongon, Papar * St Joseph's Church Parish, Papar * St Michael's Church Parish, Donggongon, Penampang ** sub-parishes of St Aloysius, Limbanak, Penampang and ** Assumption of Our Lady, Sugud, Penampang ** St Anne, Punson, Kinarut, Papar ** St Martin, Mook, Kinarut, Papar ** St Padre Pio, Labak, Kinarut, Papar ** Devine Mercy, Maang, Penampang ** Mary Immaculate Conception, Sukang Mabpai, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu ** St Marcellinus, Minintod, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu ** St Paul's Chapel on The Hill, Montfort Kinarut, Papar ** St Augustine, Kinarut, Papar ** St Theresa of The Child Jesus, Kolopis, Penampang ** Woori Jib, Potuki, Kinarut, Papar (formerly Hamin Tokou Potuki) ** St Benedict, Timpangoh Laut, Sugud, Penampang ** St Paul, Bisuang, Papar ** St Pope John Paul II, Buayan, Penampang (formerly St Patrick, Buayan) ** St Bernard, Terian, Penampang ** St Julius I, Timpayasa, Penampang ** Chapel of Mary Mother of Ecclesia, Tiku, Penampang ** * St Peter Claver's Church Parish, Ranau * Stella Maris Church Parish, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu ** sub-parishes of St Thomas More Church, Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu, and ** St Catherine Laboure Church, Putatan, Penampang * Holy Family Church Parish, Telipok, Kota Kinabalu * Holy Nativity Church Parish, Terawi, Penampang ** sub-parishes of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Talang Taun, Ulu Putatan, Penampang, ** St Simon the Zealot Church, Duvanson, Putatan, Penampang, and ** St Peter the Apostle Church, Tombovo, Putatan, Penampang * St John's Church Parish, Tuaran ** sub-parishes of St Mary's Mother of God Church Topokon, ** St Philip the Apostle Church, Tamparuli, ** St Clare of Assisi Church, Koporingan and ** St James's the Apostle Church, Tenghilan

Religious Orders

Religious Men

* Brothers of the Christian School (FSC); De La Salle Brothers * Brothers of St Gabriel (SG); Gabrielite or Monfort Brothers
Clerical Society of the Most Holy Trinity
(SST) * Marist Brothers of the Schools (FMS)

Religious Women

Discalced Carmelite Nuns A discalced congregation is a religious congregation that goes barefoot or wears sandals. These congregations are often distinguished on this account from other branches of the same order. The custom of going unshod was introduced into the West b ...

(OCD) * Daughters of St Paul (FSP)
Good Shepherd Sisters
(RGS)
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
(FSIC)

Media Apostolate/Social Communications

Publications

* Catholic Sabah (fortnightly newspaper) Established in 1957. https://www.catholicsabah.com/ * Lu (Chinese bimonthly)

Bookshops

* Catholic Books Distribution Centre (088-723973) * Paulines Media Centre (In Charge: Sr Magdalene Chong FSP; 088239932)

Sources and external links

GigaCatholic, with incumbent biography links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kota Kinabalu Roman Catholic dioceses in Malaysia Religious organizations established in 1855 Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 19th century